Today at the Albany Starbucks, I met a young woman named Shirley — she’s in the National Air Guard. While she was busy preparing coffee, I casually asked, “What do you do for the Guard?” Without missing a beat, she said, “I’m a weapons tech.” Curious, I asked, “On F-18s? A-10s?” Still in the middle of her shift, she answered, “F-16s.” Then, between handing off a coffee and prepping the next order, I asked, “Do F-16s use hydraulics or electric systems to rearm on the ground?” She replied confidently: “Both!” It blows my mind how this generation can go from discussing advanced military systems to serving up lattes — all in the same breath. I’m proud to support Starbucks if they employ people like her. What a powerful reminder of how capable, smart, and adaptable today’s youth truly are.